The discography of Japanese R&B and pop singer Ken Hirai consists of ten studio albums, two compilation albums, one remix album, three cover albums, thirteen video albums and numerous singles and promotional singles. Hirai debuted as a musician under Sony Music Records in 1995 with the single "Precious Junk", but found success five years later with the single "Lakuen" and his third album, The Changing Same.
Hirai's success continued through the 2000s, with the single "Ōki na Furudokei" (2002), a Japanese-language version of "My Grandfather's Clock", an 1876 song by American composer Henry Clay Work, "Hitomi o Tojite" (2004), the theme song for the film Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World and "Pop Star" (2005), the theme song of the Misaki Ito-starring drama Kiken na Aneki.
In addition to his studio albums, Hirai has released a series of acoustic cover albums entitled Ken's Bar, named after a series of concept live concerts he performs.
Studio albums All release dates pertain to their release in Japan, unless stated.
+ List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positions Sales (JPN) CertificationsJPNKOROverseasTWNTWN East Asian Un-balanced Released: July 7, 1995 Label: Sony Music Records Formats: CD, cassette, digital download 57 — — — 18,000 Stare At Released: December 1, 1996 Label: Sony Formats: CD, cassette, digital download — — — — The Changing Same Released: June 21, 2000 Label: Sony, DefStar Records Formats: CD, cassette, digital download 1 — — — 1,265,000RIAJ: Million Gaining Through Losing Released: July 4, 2001 Label: DefStar Formats: CD, cassette, digital download 1 — — — 1,081,000RIAJ: Million Life Is... Released: January 22, 2003 Label: DefStar Formats: CD, cassette, digital download 1 — — — 806,000RIAJ: Million Sentimentalovers Released: November 24, 2004 Label: DefStar Formats: CD, cassette, digital download 1 — — 1 1,661,000RIAJ: Million Fakin' Pop Released: March 12, 2008 Label: DefStar Formats: CD, digital download 2 — 6 2 332,000RIAJ: 2× Platinum Japanese Singer Released: June 8, 2011 Label: DefStar Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download 3 10 — 12 141,000RIAJ: Gold The Still Life Released: July 6, 2016 Label: Ariola Japan Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download 4 — — — 72,000 Released: May 12, 2021 Label: Ariola Japan Formats: CD, CD/DVD, CD/Blu-ray, digital download 2 — — — 25,521 (physical)"—" denotes items which were released before the creation of the G-Music or Gaon Charts, or items that did not chart.
Compilation albums
+ List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positions Sales (JPN) CertificationsJPNKOROverseasTWNTWN East Asian Released: November 23, 2005 Label: DefStar Formats: 2CD, Blu-spec CD, digital download 1 — 3 1 2,107,000RIAJ: 2× Million Released: November 10, 2010 Label: DefStar Formats: 2CD, 3CD, digital download 5 51 — 15 44,000 Released: November 10, 2010 Label: DefStar Formats: 3CD, 4CD, 3CD+DVD, digital download 2 — — — 77,000"—" denotes items which were released before the creation of the G-Music or Gaon Charts, or items that did not chart.
Remix album
+ List of remix albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positions Sales (JPN) CertificationsJPN KH Re-mixed Up 1 Released: November 28, 2001 Label: DefStar Formats: 2CD, cassette 6 186,000RIAJ: Gold
Cover albums
+ List of cover albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positions Sales (JPN) CertificationsJPNKORKOROverseasTWN East Asian Ken's Bar Released: December 10, 2003 Label: DefStar Formats: CD, Blu-spec CD, digital download 2 — — — 492,000RIAJ: 2× Platinum Ken's Bar II Released: May 27, 2009 Label: DefStar Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download 2 — — 6 122,000RIAJ: Gold Ken's Bar III Released: May 28, 2014 Label: Ariola Japan Formats: CD, 2CD, CD/DVD, digital download 4 22 68 6 58,000"—" denotes items which were released before the creation of the G-Music or Gaon Charts.
Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions Sales (JPN) Certifications AlbumOricon Singles ChartsBillboard Japan Hot 100TWNTWN East Asian "Precious Junk" 1995 50 — — — 44,000Un-balanced — — — — — — — — Stare At 1996 — — — — "Stay with Me" — — — — "Heat Up" 1997 — — — — Non-album single "Love Love Love" 1998 — — — — The Changing Same "Lakuen" 2000 7 — — — 549,000RIAJ: (physical): Platinum RIAJ (download): Gold "Why" 8 — — — 211,000RIAJ (physical): Gold "Love or Lust" 6 — — — 264,000RIAJ (physical): GoldGaining Through Losing "Even If" 3 — — — 333,000RIAJ (physical): Gold RIAJ (download): Gold "Miracles" 2001 4 — — — 240,000RIAJ (physical): Gold "Kiss of Life" 2 — — — 555,000RIAJ (physical): Platinum "Missin' You (It Will Break My Heart)" 2002 4 — — — 115,000RIAJ (physical): GoldLife Is... "Strawberry Sex" 13 — — — 49,000 1 — — — 772,000RIAJ (physical): 2× Platinum "Ring" 1 — — — 322,000RIAJ (physical): Platinum "Life Is..." 2003 3 — — — 191,000RIAJ (physical): Platinum "Style" 12 — — — 44,000RIAJ (physical): GoldSentimentalovers 2004 2 — — — 893,000RIAJ (ringtone): Million RIAJ (physical): 3× Platinum RIAJ (cellphone): Platinum RIAJ (PC): 2× Platinum RIAJ (streaming): Gold 5 — — — 161,000RIAJ (physical): Gold 1 — — — 272,000RIAJ (ringtone): 2× Platinum RIAJ (physical): Platinum RIAJ (download): Gold "Pop Star" 2005 1 91 — — 244,000RIAJ (ringtone): Million RIAJ (cellphone): 2× Platinum RIAJ (physical): Platinum RIAJ (streaming): GoldUtabaka / Fakin' Pop 2006 2 — — — 81,000RIAJ (physical): GoldFakin' Pop 2007 5 — — — 119,000RIAJ (cellphone): Platinum RIAJ (physical): Gold 5 — — — 103,000RIAJ (cellphone): Platinum RIAJ (physical): Gold RIAJ (streaming): Gold "Fake Star" 6 — — — 32,000RIAJ (download): Gold 2008 6 5 — — 40,000RIAJ (cellphone): Gold 80 "Itsuka Hanareru Hi ga Kite mo" 19 17 — — 19,000RIAJ (cellphone): Gold "Candy" 2009 7 2 — — 14,000Japanese Singer "Boku wa Kimi ni Koi o Suru" 3 1 — 16 70,000RIAJ (cellphone): 2× Platinum "Sing Forever" 2010 7 5 — — 16,000 "Aishiteru" 9 12 — — 34,000RIAJ (cellphone): Gold "Itoshiki Hibi yo" 2011 7 6 — — 31,000RIAJ (download): Platinum 2012 5 6 — — 44,000RIAJ (download): GoldThe Still Life 2013 — 16 — — (featuring Namie Amuro) 2014 4 4 17 3 51,000 RIAJ (download): Platinum 13 — 12 13,000 10 2015 18 18 — 11,000 "Plus One" 2016 15 20 — 10,000 "Time" 54 — 15 4 — — 12,000RIAJ (download): Platinum 2017 7 7 — — 17,000 Ken Hirai Singles Best Collection Utabaka 2 "Nonfiction" 10 5 — — 18,000RIAJ (download): Platinum RIAJ (streaming): Gold 2018 18 13 — — 7,000 Anata ni Naritakatta 16 35 — — 7,000 "Half of Me" 15 17 — — 13,000 RIAJ (download): Gold 2019 — 39 — — "#302" 11 18 — — 9,000 2020 — 15 — — RIAJ (streaming): Silver
Promotional singles Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumBillboard Japan Hot 100 "K.O.L." 2000 —The Changing Same "Gaining Through Losing" 2001 —Gaining Through Losing "One Love Wonderful World" —KH Re-mixed Up 1 "Come Back" 2003 —Life Is... — "The Rose" —Ken's Bar "Lovin' You" — "Miagete Goran Yoru no Hoshi o" — "You've Got a Friend" — "Faith" — "When You Wish upon a Star" — "ABC" — 2004 —Sentimentalovers 2007 —Fakin' Pop 2008 49 "Stardust" (with Hibari Misora) 2009 54Ken's Bar II "Because of You" 69 "Love (Destiny)" 77 "Heart of Mine" 68 "Wakareuta"(with Masamune Kusano) 91 2011 —Japanese Singer "Girls 3x" — "Virtual Insanity" 2014 —Ken's Bar III "1995" 2021 — Anata ni Naritakatta
Video albums Music video collections + List of media, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positionsJPN Ken Hirai Films Vol. 1 Released: December 1, 1996 Label: Sony Formats: VHS, DVD — Ken Hirai Films Vol. 2 Released: June 21, 2000 Label: Sony Formats: DVD, VHS — Ken Hirai Films Vol. 3 Released: July 4, 2001 Label: DefStar Formats: DVD 17 Ken Hirai Films Vol. 5 Released: January 22, 2003 Label: DefStar Formats: DVD 14 Ken Hirai Films Vol. 7 Released: November 24, 2004 Label: DefStar Records Formats: DVD 5 Ken Hirai Films Vol. 9 Released: April 23, 2008 Label: DefStar Records Formats: DVD 49 Ken Hirai Films Vol. 12 Released: May 30, 2012 Label: DefStar Formats: DVD 4 Ken Hirai Films Vol. 12 Released: May 12, 2021 Label: Ariola Japan Formats: DVD, Blu-ray
Live concerts + List of media, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positionsJPN Ken Hirai Films Vol. 4: Live Tour 2001 Gaining Through Losing at the Budokan Released: January 30, 2002 Label: DefStar Formats: DVD 3 Ken Hirai Films Vol. 6: MTV Unplugged Ken Hirai Released: December 20, 2003 Label: DefStar Formats: DVD 8 Ken Hirai Films Vol. 8: Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Tour Final at Saitama Super Arena Released: December 7, 2005 Label: DefStar Formats: Blu-ray, DVD 9 Ken Hirai Films Vol. 10: Ken Hirai Live Tour 2008 Fakin' Pop Released: December 17, 2008 Label: DefStar Formats: Blu-ray, DVD 18 Ken Hirai Films Vol. 11: Ken's Bar 10th Anniversary Released: June 10, 2009 Label: DefStar Formats: DVD 6 Ken's Bar 10th Anniversary Christmas Eve Special! Released: June 10, 2009 Label: DefStar Formats: Blu-ray 6 Ken Hirai Films Vol. 13: Ken Hirai 20th Anniversary Opening Special at Zepp Tokyo Released: March 23, 2016 Label: Ariola Japan Formats: DVD, Blu-ray 19 Ken Hirai Films Vol.14 Ken’s Bar 20th Anniversary Special Released: December 5, 2018 Label: Ariora Japan Formats: DVD, Blu-ray 17
Other appearances
+ List of non-studio album or guest appearances that feature Ken Hirai Title Year Album "Moonstruck" (Chaka with Ken Hirai) 1996 With Friends "Holding On to Promises" (Gerry DeVeaux featuring Ken Hirai) Back to You 1998 Setsunai: Tokyo Heart Break Original Soundtrack (K Dub Shine featuring Ken Hirai) 2000 Ikiru "Eyes on You" (Akina Nakamori) 2002 Resonancia "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" 2003 Conception: Stevie Wonder Tribute "Got Me a Feeling" (Bonnie Pink featuring Ken Hirai) 2005 Reminiscence (Ohashi Trio featuring Ken Hirai) 2012 White (Toko Furuuchi featuring Ken Hirai) 2013 And Then...: 20th Anniversary Best
Notes
References